Keep on keeping on

Wow!  I am really bad at updating my blog!!  I have all these good ideas, pictures, and stories to share with you, but finding the time is so hard!  For instance,  just started uploading the videos to YouTube and writing this entry and as soon as my fingers touch the keyboard... "Mom!!!  Can we read now?" "I am cold,  where is my blanket?" " I need more 'nilk'!"  *sigh*   Love my job, but man, a girl could use a break!  Lol!  Ok, so hold on, I be back in a few!!!

.....

Yeah, started this 2 days ago!  Oh well...

So today is Rachel's 7th birthday!!  And I have a feeling this is going to be her year!  This girl has been through so much and ther is still a very long up hill climb to go.  But I know it will be much easier now.  

Remember how I said this process is watching therapy on fast forward?  The past few weeks (6 now, to be exact) have been like having a very young child at the beginning of a very long journey and being able to use a remote control and skip all of the hard up's and down's and get straight to the results.  Rachel will start a new skill one day, struggle with it for a day or two, then, BAM! Be able to do the task no problem!  Don't just take my word for it,  watch for yourself!!!

December 16th:

December 19th:

December 23rd: no assistance

(and yes, they are wearing pj's at therapy, Polar Express Day!  Rachel was just glad she didn't have to get dressed!!  HA!)


As of Thursday January 2 she is standing independently for "88" seconds, Exactly!  lol!

Walking is getting easier too!  The biggest obstacle is muscle strength right now.  Building it up does take time ;)    But Rachel is making huge strides in this area too.

She is using her walker SO much better, and is able to steer around the corners of the track in the gym.  Yes, she did this before, but she never seemed to have full control, where as now she takes the turns like a pro ;)  and she is fast!  Watch out students of Sara Collins Elementary!!!  

As of January 1st, we are up to 10 minutes non-stop on the treadmill!  She was able to do this before, but it required a lot of me to keep her upright and supported.  I have very little to do now other than to cheer her on and find good songs on the iPod!

I have saved the BEST for last!!!  As you know our ultimate goal for Rachel is to walk independently.  Pre-op we were able to just hold her left hand and guide her.  It was a slow process but she could make short distances using this method.  After a few days of practice we are back to using this method!!!  And it is a WHOLE NEW WORLD!!!  I don't have to do much work to guide her and I have very little to do with keeping her upright!  I can not tell you how excited this makes me!!!  We walked out of Jazzercise the other day, I held her left hand and she was able to hold Rhett's hand with her right to keep him from bolting.  She seemed very proud of herself that she could be a big sister and "take care" of Rhett!  So Sweet!

Here she is December 30th:  

Sorry for the bad camera angle, gotta capture this stuff as it happens and there is usually little time to prepare fully.

And again: 

She was doing so well with one hand walking her therapist decided to try some independent steps...

Melanie is just holding on to her shirt!  I need to look back and see if I can find some pre-op walking for comparison, but this is very different!  She use to "launch" herself.  I can already see more control!  Poor Melanie couldn't move back fast enough!

I am so grateful for Dr. Park, St Louis Children's Hospital, our Therapists at home and the support from our family and friends!!!  I have a good feeling about this year!!!  Good things are coming this little girls way!  And as we celebrate her 7th Birthday TODAY, I am filled with such a flood of emotion!  So happy, excited, and full of hope for this Super Star-tastic Little Girl!!!  Rachel, I hope that one day you look back on this and you are as amazed at yourself and full of pride as we all are for you!  You are a ROCKSTAR!